Stealing My Ex's Brother

A leaked audio file drops into the senior group chat.

My boyfriend's voice echoes through my phone speakers. "Listening to her obsess over me makes me want to puke." I sign the transfer papers that exact afternoon. … A year later, my exboyfriend tracks me down.

He drops to his knees and smashes his fists against the hardwood floor. "Give me one more chance," he chokes out.

The untouchable valedictorian of my new school wraps his arm around my waist. My ex stares at his own biological brother in pure horror.

Chapter 1 An audio file dropped into the senior class group chat. The title glared at me: "Lorelai's Pathetic Simp Compilation." My stomach plummeted.

My thumb hovered over the screen. With a nervous flutter in my stomach, I hit play. The first half played my own voice. Sweet. Sincere.

Bright. "I like you." Then came Conrad’s careless drawl. "If it wasn't to help Daphne take back the number one rank, I wouldn't even bother playing house with Lorelai.

Listening to her obsess over me every single day makes me want to puke." My fists clenched. My fingernails dug into my palms, sending a sharp sting through my skin.

I squeezed tighter. As if the physical pain could cover up the deep ache in my heart. The group chat exploded. Messages flooded the screen like crazy. "Lorelai is such a pickme.

I've literally heard her obsessing over Conrad a million times." "Lmao. Simped so hard she got played." "Never seen a girl throw herself at a guy like that. So embarrassing.

So desperate." "Wait, didn't Conrad ask her out first? (Don't come for me!)" "He only did it for Daphne, duh. Date Lorelai, distract her, tank her GPA. Boom.

Daphne gets the top spot back." "I always knew the new girl could never beat the childhood bestie.

Conrad really took one for the team going undercover like that." "Childhood friends to lovers is superior anyway.

The new girl needs to leave." "Daphne literally owned the number one spot until Lorelai transferred here and stole it. I'd be pissed too." "Lorelai is so annoying!

Always acting like this bubbly little sunshine. Who is she trying to fool?" "Fr.

Feels so good seeing everyone finally realize how fake she is." They devoured the drama, feasting on my humiliation and completely forgetting that I occupied that exact same chat.

Or maybe they just didn't care. Daphne and I operated in different universes. She reigned as Class President. The perfect student. The untouchable golden girl.

I just smiled and talked to everyone. I actually thought I had friends here. Today shattered that illusion. A harsh, freezing wakeup call. I hit the 'Leave Group' button.

The chat vanished from my screen. My trembling fingers dialed Conrad's number. I needed to hear it from him. I needed him to say those words to my face. That he used me for Daphne.

That my touch made him sick. It rang forever. Finally, a click. Loud music and overlapping voices bled through the speaker.

Conrad’s deep, familiar rasp vibrated against my ear. "Lorelai?" My breath hitched.

I forced the words out. "I thought you stayed home sick." Conrad opened his mouth, but a bright, clear voice cut him off in the background. "Conrad, hurry up!

It's your turn." Every syllable struck like shattered glass. Daphne. Conrad's tone shifted. Rushed. Dismissive. "Lorelai, I'm tied up right now.

Let's talk at school tomorrow, be good." The line went dead. A hollow, rhythmic beeping echoed in the silent room.

My grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned stark white. A bitter, heavy ache seized my chest. My screen suddenly lit up. An iMessage notification from Daphne.

Attached was a single video file. Chapter 2 My thumb hovered over the screen. I hit play.

The screen illuminated a dimly lit VIP booth, where neon lights bled through the heavy haze. Daphne and Conrad were sitting there, playing some stupid party game.

Passing a beer bottle cap mouthtomouth. A single die balanced precariously on top. Daphne’s cheeks burned a soft pink.

She held the cap between her glossy lips, staring up at Conrad through her lashes. Like a cute, obedient little kitten. Conrad tilted his head.

A lazy smirk played on his lips. "Who came up with this garbage?" he drawled. "Mouthtomouth and the dice can't drop?" The crowd jeered, calling his bluff and taunting him. "Are you scared, man?

Can't handle it?" Daphne’s gaze dropped. The light completely died in her eyes. Then, he moved. Conrad surged forward.

He snatched the cap from her lips with his teeth and spat it to the floor. His hands framed her face. He crushed his mouth against hers. A deep, hungry kiss.

The onlookers froze for a split second before erupting into deafening cheers and screams. Conrad pulled back.

He glanced at the discarded cap on the floor and let out a low, raspy chuckle. "Dice dropped." He threw his hands up in mock surrender. "I lose." The screen cut to black. iMessage pings lit up my screen.

Rapidfire texts from Daphne. "Congrats on getting Valedictorian again, Lorelai." "But honestly?

My bad." "Heard Conrad blew off your little Omakase date today." "He’s busy keeping me company. I totally bombed midterms, so I’m the one who needs comforting right now.

You get it, right?" "You don't mind me borrowing your boyfriend for the night, do you?" I stared at the glowing blue bubbles. I suddenly laughed out loud.

The puzzle pieces finally snapped together. Every confusing, twisted interaction suddenly made perfect sense.

I had invited him to that sushi spot, practically buzzing with adrenaline and high on the rush of keeping my numberone rank. "That place has a threemonth waitlist," I chattered, practically skipping beside him. "I've been dying to go." Conrad kept his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

His jaw clenched. A dark storm brewing in his eyes. "You're seriously this hyped over a stupid grade?" I stopped. I tilted my head, studying him. "Yeah.

We go to the hardest prep school in the state," I said, a smile breaking across my face. "Taking the number one rank twice in a row is a huge deal." The shadows on his face deepened.

The tension radiating off him felt heavy. Suffocating. I watched him. Trying to read the shift. Conrad ranked dead last again.

He always acted like he didn't care about his GPA, but maybe it stung. Maybe my excitement bruised his ego. My chest softened. I reached out.

I laced my fingers through his, gripping his hand tightly. "Grades aren't everything," I said softly, holding his gaze. "You're still Conrad.

Number one or dead last, I like you exactly the way you are." He ripped his hand away.

The violent force of it sent me stumbling back. "Lorelai, do you ever listen to yourself?" he spat, his voice dripping with pure venom. "Don't you feel sick spewing that obsessive crap every single day?" He sneered, stepping into my space. "I've never met anyone who simps harder than you." I completely froze.

I just stood there. Staring at him. My heart ached slightly, and I felt a bit lost. I couldn't process the sudden whiplash. The sheer cruelty burning in his eyes.

Was telling the guy I liked that I cared about him really such a sickening, pathetic joke? Chapter 3 My parents love each other fiercely.

They raised me on total transparency. "Sweetie, don't hide it. Say it out loud. Never hold back when you care about someone." Have they been lying to me my entire life?

Conrad caught my shattered expression. A fleeting flicker of regret crossed his face. His harsh tone dropped. "Sorry, Lorelai. I'm just burnt out. I need to crash at home.

Raincheck on the omakase, okay?" I forced a smile. Waved it off like it meant absolutely nothing. But the guy who claimed he desperately needed sleep?

He sprinted straight into the arms of his childhood best friend. Today ripped the blindfold off. Deep red ears didn't guarantee a racing pulse.

Devotion could be flawlessly, effortlessly faked. I bolted into the nearest restroom. Slammed the door shut. Cranked the faucet to the absolute max.

My knees buckled against the cold tile. Air refused to enter my lungs. A jagged, physical ache clawed up my throat. I cried so hard I could barely breathe.

Many memories of my time with Conrad flashed through my mind. A year ago, Dad’s tech firm expanded to the East Coast. I transferred to this elite prep school.

Conrad took the empty desk next to mine. He slept through every single AP class. Filthy rich. Untouchable. The administration completely gave up on him.

As my seatmate, he kept to himself. Slept silently. Sometimes burying his face in his folded arms. Sometimes turning his head toward me.

Morning sunlight used to spill across his desk. It caught the sharp, dangerous line of his jaw. Long, dark lashes. Straight nose. Thin lips.

I rested my chin on my hand, staring at him. "God, he's unfairly gorgeous." Without warning, his eyes snapped open. I froze. Caught dead to rights.

But he just smirked. "Like what you see?" That was the first thing he ever said to me. My pulse hammered against my chest. Heat flooded my cheeks.

I practically ripped my textbook open, staring blankly at the pages to hide my burning face. Then he pursued me. Relentlessly. We made it official fast.

He became my first real boyfriend. I gave him every single piece of my heart. Honestly? He played the perfect boyfriend. Surprise gifts. Spontaneous romance.

Not even his parents could step foot inside his room, but he left the door wide open for me. Once, brutal period cramps kept me awake.

I craved this specific chicken noodle soup from a diner across town.

He grabbed his motorcycle keys in freezing twentydegree weather and tore across the city at midnight just to bring me a hot bowl. Memories. Sugarcoated poison.

I finally gave up on him. I collected myself. I pressed ice cubes under my eyes until the skin turned completely numb. Until the red faded. I knocked on Dad's home office door.

Dad took one look at me. His protective instincts instantly flared. "Sweetie, you've been crying.

Who did this?" I dropped my gaze to the floorboards. "Dad… I can't do this prep school anymore. The pressure is suffocating me. I want to transfer." He didn't even hesitate.

His heavy, warm hand ruffled my hair. "Done. Wherever you want to go, sweetie. Just do your best. Forget the stress. Even if the sky falls, Dad's got your back.

Got it?" The raw, unconditional love in his voice burned. A fresh wave of acid stung the back of my nose. Tears threatened to spill over my lashes all over again.

Total, blind support. That night, Mom pushed my bedroom door open. She slipped under my duvet, pulling me close. I buried my face against Mom's chest.

She smelled like lavender and absolute safety. I fully expected to lie awake staring at the ceiling until dawn. Instead, the exhaustion dragged me under.

I closed my eyes and fell fast asleep. Chapter 4 The next morning, Dad headed to the administration office to finalize my transfer papers. I tried to go with him.

He blocked the door and pressed a matte black Amex into my palm. "Dad's got this," he said. "Go hit the mall. Buy whatever you want, sweetie.

And please, don't try to save my money." I grabbed a few blind boxes before wandering into a bookstore. My favorite author had just dropped a new release.

The display shelf held exactly one copy left. My fingers brushed the spine. A sudden, delighted gasp sounded right behind me. "Oh my god, Conrad!

There's one left!" I didn't hesitate. I slid the hardcover off the shelf and turned around. Conrad and Daphne. Standing shoulder to shoulder.

The pictureperfect high school power couple. Conrad froze. "Lorelai? Why aren't you in class?" I ignored him. I stepped past them, heading straight for the cash registers.

Daphne lunged forward, her fingers clamping tight around my wrist. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and desperately pleading. "Lorelai, please, can I have that?

I'll pay you ten times the retail price. I've been driving around all morning. Every single store is sold out. This is literally the last one." I kept my voice deadpan. "Sorry.

I don't need your money." All the color instantly drained from Daphne's face, and a fresh layer of tears pooled in her eyes.

Conrad’s brow furrowed. "It's Daphne's birthday, Lorelai," he said, his voice hard. "Just be the bigger person and let her have it. They'll restock soon.

You can wait a few days." A dry laugh escaped my throat. "Why can't Daphne wait a few days?" I asked. "I grabbed it first. First come, first served.

Is that a problem?" Conrad's eyes instantly turned to ice. "Are you seriously acting this jealous over a book?" he scoffed, his tone dripping with pure condescension. "Be real.

Do you even read this author? You just saw Daphne wanted it and decided to be petty." Daphne stood halfhidden behind Conrad's broad shoulders.

A tiny, triumphant smirk curled the corner of her mouth. I lifted my chin.

I stared dead into Conrad's eyes. "So that's how you see me." Something in my expression must have shifted. A sudden flicker of genuine panic cracked his icy facade.

He blinked, quickly masking it. His voice dropped an octave, slipping right back into that familiar, coaxing murmur. "Stop acting out, Lorelai.

As soon as the restock hits, I'll buy it for you myself. Okay?" I suddenly felt so tired and over it all.

I shoved the heavy hardcover flush against his chest, enunciating every single word. "I don't want it anymore." I didn't want him anymore. Conrad. This was our dead end.

Fading out into the distance, leaving nothing but silent memories. I transferred to Oakridge Academy in the neighboring city.

A prep school just as cutthroat and elite as my last one. I adapted fast. I caught up on the AP syllabus within days. This time, I kept my head down. No parties. No socializing.

Just absolute, brutal focus. Until the midterm rankings dropped on the main bulletin board. I accidentally claimed the number one rank. Again.

A massive crowd of students buzzed around the hallway. "Holy shit. Am I hallucinating? Jasper actually dropped to second place?" "Nope.

I'm seeing it too." "Wait, who the hell is this Lorelai girl taking the number one spot? Never heard of her." "She's in my homeroom.

Dropdead gorgeous, but completely unapproachable. Total ice queen." "Pretty sure she's a recent transfer. Came straight from Westbrook Prep." "Oh, she transferred from Westbrook?

That explains it." "What's that supposed to mean? Why are you hyping up Westbrook and trashtalking our own school?" Chapter 5 "Looks like Jasper finally met his match.

Grab the popcorn." The hallway practically vibrated with gossip. My stomach plummeted to the floor. Another untouchable golden boy dominating the rankings?

The Daphne situation had left me with severe, lingering PTSD. I needed absolutely zero drama. During lunch, I marched down the hall and knocked on Ms. Quinn’s door.

A guy stood by Ms. Quinn’s desk. Tall, lean, devastatingly pretty with a gentle, scholarly vibe. My eyes lingered a second too long. He felt the weight of my stare.

Under my blatant assessment, his already perfect posture stiffened. Shoulders pulling back, spine slowly straightening. Ms. Quinn looked up, pulling me out of my trance. "Lorelai?

What's up?" "Ms. Quinn, I need to look at Jasper's midterms." Hearing this, the boy glanced at me. Ms. Quinn glanced at the boy, then back at me.

A teasing smile tugged at her lips. "Why? Crushing on him already?" Ms. Quinn was in her early thirties but dressed like a grad student.

The cool, approachable teacher who treated us like actual humans. The teasing didn't phase me at all. But I wasn't the one blushing.

The guy next to me turned a violent, alarming shade of crimson. I stared at him. The flush crawled up his pale neck, burning the tips of his ears, practically radiating heat. Ms.

Quinn raised an eyebrow, waiting for my answer. "Strictly academic," I blurted out. "Just analyzing the competition to improve my own study methods." Ms.

Quinn laughed. "Jasper scored lower than you, Lorelai. Don't study his paper and let your GPA tank." A cold sweat broke out across my back. She meant it as a joke. I didn't.

I specifically needed his exam so I could tank my grades. I needed to calculate his exact baseline. The plan? Deliberately score exactly ten points below him next time.

Stay under the radar. Avoid stepping on the reigning golden boy’s toes at all costs. I absolutely refused to deal with another Daphne situation. Ms. Quinn didn't press the issue.

She slid Jasper’s exam packet across the desk. I flipped through the pages. I mentally logged his strongest subjects and his sloppy mistakes.

Once I mapped out his exact academic limits, I handed the packet back. I turned to leave. The pretty guy followed right on my heels.

We walked down the empty corridor in total silence. Just the rhythmic squeak of sneakers against linoleum. He shadowed me all the way down the hall.

Right through the door of my AP Physics class. Wait. He was in my homeroom this entire time? I shifted back into hardcore NPC mode. Headphones on, head down, blocking out the noise.

Two more AP practice exams passed. I successfully dropped to rank number two. Exactly ten points behind Jasper. Every single time. The student body instantly lost interest in me.

All the obsessive hype snapped right back to Jasper. "Jasper reclaims his throne. Oakridge's golden boy effortlessly crushes the Westbrook transfer." I did a mental victory dance.

A flawless execution. Grade manipulation at its absolute finest. I walked back to class, a genuine spring in my step, the oppressive weight completely lifted off my shoulders.

Until a tall frame stepped right into my path, completely blocking the secluded stairwell. The guy from Ms. Quinn's office.

His dark, inkblack eyes practically burned holes through my skull. His chest heaved. He looked so mad he was practically pouting.

And devastatingly gorgeous. "Lorelai, what the hell is your problem?" I blinked, completely caught off guard. "Huh?" That single syllable made him infinitely more furious. "Don't give me that!" he snapped.

I took a tiny, cautious step back. "Look, dude, I think you have the wrong person. I literally have no idea who you are.

Is there… another Lorelai on campus you're looking for?" Chapter 6 The words hit like a physical blow. His eyes immediately grew red.

His voice cracked, filled with sheer disbelief and grievance. "You don't know who I am? Are you seriously telling me you don't know who I am?" I crossed my arms.

Totally unfazed. "Should I?" His jaw ticked. The accusation tore through his gritted teeth. "Lorelai, you're an absolute menace. You conned Ms. Quinn.

You played the perfect little overachiever to get your hands on my AP practice exams.

It wasn't about studying." He took a step closer, crowding my space. "You used my AP practice exams as an excuse to study, but actually you just wanted to manipulate your grades.

Exactly ten points lower. Every single time. Do you think I'm blind?" The pure fury in his voice cracked.

A thin, glassy layer of unshed tears glossed over his dark eyes. "And the worst part…" He swallowed hard.

The sharp line of his throat bobbed. "You don't even realize I'm Jasper." The floor completely dropped out from beneath me